AIM: To compare the efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab and bevacizumab for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration(AMD)using a pro re nata(PRN)treatment regimen.

METHODS: A total of 63 eyes(35 eyes treated with ranibizumab and 28 eyes treated with bevacizumab)of 63 patients with newly diagnosed neovascular AMD were analyzed and compared retrospectively. Outcomes included comparison of best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA)and central foveal thickness(CFT)after ranibizumab or bevacizumab treatment at 12mo follow-up. Two-tailed t-tests and one-way ANOVA were used to compare mean changes in BCVA and CFT for different groups.

RESULTS: Thirty-five eyes treated with ranibizumab and 28 eyes treated with bevacizumab were enrolled and completed 12mo follow-up. At 12mo, mean BCVA increased by 0.1logMAR with ranibizumab treatment; however BCVA decreased by 0.06logMAR with bevacizumab treatment(P=0.01). A gain of at least 0.3logMAR in BCVA was observed in 13 eyes(37%)treated with ranibizumab and in 4 eyes(14%)treated with bevacizumab. Mean CFT reduced by 41.6μm and 8.1μm in the ranibizumab and bevacizumab groups, respectively(P=0.003). The mean number of injections per eye was 4.46 with ranibizumab and 4.11 with bevacizumab(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Intravitreal ranibizumab yielded better visual and anatomical results than bevacizumab. However, randomized long-term clinical trials are needed to draw conclusions about efficacy and safety of the two drugs.